Susan Ostermann, expert in comparative politics in South Asia, appointed assistant professor of global affairs

An expert in comparative politics in South Asia, Ostermann holds a Ph.D. from the Travers Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Her dissertation develops the concept of regulatory pragmatism to explain variation in strategies used by both the Nepali and Indian states to secure compliance with conservation, education and child labor regulations. She also holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and she worked for several years as a practicing litigator, focusing on class actions and intellectual property disputes.

Ostermann has published work on the Indian bureaucracy, the 2014 Indian general election, state capacity in South Asia, inter-caste marriage and the role of skin color in Indian politics. Her current research projects range from exploring the historical roots of conservatism in Indian political thought to explaining variation in sex-ratios throughout the subcontinent.

Ostermann and Tamara Kay, associate professor of global affairs and sociology, are developing and will co-teach “Global Actors and Institutions” — a core course for students in the Master of Global Affairs program, which begins in August.

Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Ostermann was visiting assistant professor of government at Wesleyan University.